TESSILE is a research project investigating the role of windows in the lives of people today. Through an exploratory process of material prototyping and digital simulation, it envisions a future wherein window coverings respond more dynamically to environmental and societal flows. Specifically, TESSILE proposes a new typology of window covering that leverages the unique morphological properties of elasticized textile and the geometric versatility of digital fabrication. The project is rooted in original research on the topic of windows and window coverings. In addition to direct observation and literature review, data was collected through an online survey of over 200 individuals in Europe and North America. These efforts resulted in two research documents: (1) a catalogue of window typologies and (2) a comparative analysis of window interaction in the United States and Italy. It was found that, while many products exist today serving the practical and aesthetic needs of consumers, the market is steeped in tradition and wary of innovation. Many technological and material opportunities remain untapped. TESSILE pursues innovation through the hands-on testing of materials and geometry. Specifically, it explores the use of elasticized textiles as an actuator in soft, transformable assemblies. The prototyping process involves 3d-printing filament onto pre-stretched fabric, causing selective deformation of the plane and highly complex surface curvatures. The hybridized fabric is then folded, cut or laminating to achieve additional aesthetic and functional effects. Though experimental in nature, the process results in visually compelling surfaces with unique performative characteristics. If scaled up, these surfaces could act as dynamic screening devices for windows. In different cultures and climates, window coverings are expected to perform different tasks. In cold northern climates, for example, sunlight is often blocked with interior curtains that absorb heat and radiate it toward the interior. In hot climates, alternatively, sunlight is blocked by exterior shading devices, carefully tuned throughout the day by building occupants. The products that evolved in response to these climatic conditions have a significant impact on human behavior, affecting the way entire cultures interact with their windows. In mature societies, there is a healthy symbiosis that develops between products and culture. Yet globalization tips this balance – by vastly expanding the number of available products and by the mixing the cultures of people from diverse geographical origins. This results in the misuse of many functional elements and the trivialization of performative geometries into decorations. Furthermore, throughout the 20th century, windows were stripped of many of their original functions and became mere ‘picture’ frames for viewing. Ventilation and thermal control were relegated to central HVAC systems and many building occupants lost control over their personal environments. This was problematic both in terms of energy management and human comfort. Architects today are pushing back against this Modernist legacy, proposing increasingly interactive and customizable building enclosures. Yet mass-market products do not yet reflect this new sensibility and many homeowners are left choosing among window solutions that are centuries old. As people continue to spend more time inside, windows offer a critical moment of connection with the outdoors. They are tasked with blocking nature’s undesired elements, while letting in the good. This often leads to contradictions between two or more performance criteria; for example, offering views while maintaining privacy or providing ample daylight while avoiding solar heat gain. To respond to all these competing needs, the window has become a palimpsest of different mono-functional layers that, at times, conflict with one another. TESSILE, instead, is conceived as a multi-functional surface that responds to the intrinsic geometry of each flow: the steep angle of hot summer sun, the upward gaze of voyeuristic pedestrians, the horizontal nature of distant views. The temporal dimensions of these flows are also considered: the morning sunlight desired when waking up, the privacy needed when dressing, the security needed when away. The surface is thus divided into a series of zones that can each be transformed dynamically in space and time to achieve varied objectives. The problem of subdividing and transforming a plane is geometric in nature. Subdivisions must be sized to offer adequate variability, without becoming overly complex or visually obtrusive. The surface must be ‘tunable’ from a condition of openness to a condition of closure. And ideally, the surface is also be ‘tuckable’, in the sense that it may be fully moved out of position when not in use. This can be achieved through rolling, folding, nesting, stretching or simple planar translation. The material studies developed to enact these transformations do not look like products currently on the market. In fact, it is difficult to imagine them being readily accepted in societies that actively regulate the dressing of windows in historic styles. There are strong arguments, however, in favor of disrupting the window covering industry with more responsive systems like TESSILE. Environmentally, they save energy by better managing climatic factors like solar heat gain and daylight. On a human level, they facilitate healthy living by encouraging window interaction and more consistent awareness of nature’s many flows. The ultimate goal of TESSILE, therefore, is to take a step in the direction of innovation, by finding moments of synchronization between new needs and new opportunities -- and giving shape to these ideas through the physical realization and testing of new material ecologies.
TESSILE è un progetto di ricerca che indaga il ruolo delle finestre nella vita delle persone di oggi. Attraverso un processo esplorativo di prototipazione dei materiali e simulazione digitale, prevede un futuro in cui i rivestimenti delle finestre rispondono in modo più dinamico ai flussi ambientali e sociali. In particolare, TESSILE propone una nuova tipologia di rivestimento per finestre che sfrutta le straordinarie proprietà morfologiche dei tessuti elasticizzati e la versatilità geometrica della fabbricazione digitale. Il progetto si basa su una ricerca originale sul tema delle finestre e dei loro rivestimenti. Oltre all'osservazione diretta e alla revisione della letteratura, i dati sono stati raccolti attraverso un sondaggio online che ha coinvolto oltre 200 persone in Europa e Nord America. Questi sforzi hanno portato a due documenti di ricerca: (1) un catalogo di tipologie di finestre e (2) un'analisi comparativa dell’interazione con le finestre negli Stati Uniti ed in Italia. Si è constatato che, mentre molti prodotti esistono oggi al servizio delle esigenze pratiche ed estetiche dei consumatori, il mercato è intriso di tradizione e diffidente nei confronti dell'innovazione. Molte opportunità tecnologiche e materiali rimangono inutilizzati. TESSILE cerca l'innovazione attraverso la creazione di prototipi che combinano materiali e geometrie diverse. Nello specifico, esplora l'uso di tessuti elasticizzati come attuatori in assemblaggi cinetici. Il processo di prototipazione prevede la stampa in 3D di un filamento plastico su tessuto in tensione. Il tessuto, venuta meno la tensione, genera una deformazione selettiva del piano e curvature superficiali estremamente complesse. Il tessuto composito viene quindi piegato, tagliato e/o laminato per ottenere ulteriori effetti estetici e funzionali. Sebbene di natura sperimentale, il processo si traduce in superfici visivamente convincenti con caratteristiche performative uniche. Se ingrandite, queste superfici potrebbero fungere dispositivo di ombreggiamento dinamico per le finestre. In diverse culture e climi, i rivestimenti delle finestre dovrebbero svolgere diversi compiti. Nei climi freddi del nord, ad esempio, la luce del sole è spesso bloccata da tende interne che assorbono il calore e lo irradiano verso l'interno. Nei climi caldi, al contrario, la luce del sole viene bloccata da dispositivi di ombreggiamento esterni, attentamente regolati durante la giornata. I prodotti che si sono evoluti in risposta a queste condizioni climatiche hanno un impatto significativo sul comportamento umano, influenzando il modo in cui le diverse culture interagiscono con le finestre. Nelle società mature esiste una sana simbiosi che si sviluppa tra prodotto e cultura. Tuttavia, la globalizzazione ribalta questo equilibrio, espandendo enormemente il numero di prodotti disponibili sul mercato e mescolando culture di persone di origini geografiche diverse. Tale fenomeno si traduce nell'abuso di molti elementi funzionali e nella banalizzazione delle geometrie funzionali in decorazioni. Inoltre, nel corso del 20 ° secolo, le finestre sono state private di molte delle loro funzioni originali e sono diventate semplici cornici per il panorama. La ventilazione e il controllo termico sono stati relegati ai sistemi HVAC centralizzati e molti occupanti dell'edificio hanno perso il controllo dei loro ambienti personali. Ciò è problematico sia in termini di gestione energetica che di comfort umano. Gli architetti oggi respingono questa eredità Modernista, proponendo involucri edilizi sempre più interattivi e personalizzabili. Eppure, i prodotti del mercato di massa non riflettono ancora questa nuova sensibilità e molti proprietari di case sono costretti a scegliere tra soluzioni vecchie di secoli. Mentre le persone continuano a trascorrere più tempo all'interno, le finestre offrono una connessione critica con l'esterno. Hanno il compito di bloccare gli elementi indesiderati della natura, e lasciando passare ciò che è desiderato. Questo porta spesso a contraddizioni tra due o più criteri di rendimento; ad esempio, offrire la visuale mantenendo la privacy o sfruttare la luce diurna evitando il surriscaldamento degli ambienti. Per rispondere a tutte queste esigenze contrastanti, la finestra è diventata un palinsesto di diversi strati mono-funzionali che, a volte, sono in conflitto tra loro. TESSILE, invece, è concepito come una superficie multifunzionale che risponde alla geometria intrinseca di ogni flusso: l'inclinazione ripido del caldo sole estivo, lo sguardo verso l'alto dei pedoni voyeuristici, la natura orizzontale delle viste distanti. Vengono considerate anche le dimensioni temporali di questi flussi: la luce solare del mattino desiderata al risveglio, la privacy necessaria per vestirsi, la dovuta sicurezza quando si è lontano. La superficie è così divisa in una serie di zone che possono essere trasformate dinamicamente nello spazio e nel tempo per raggiungere obiettivi diversi. Il problema di suddividere e trasformare un piano è di natura geometrica. Le suddivisioni devono essere dimensionate per offrire un'adeguata variabilità, senza diventare eccessivamente complesse o visivamente invadenti. La superficie deve essere <<tunable>> da una condizione di apertura a una condizione di chiusura. E idealmente, la superficie è anche <<tuckable>>, nel senso che può essere completamente rimossa dalla visuale quando non è in uso. Questo può essere ottenuto attraverso laminazione, piegatura, annidamento, allungamento o semplice traslazione planare. Le prove sui materiali sviluppate per mettere in atto queste trasformazioni non somigliano prodotti attualmente sul mercato. In effetti, è difficile immaginare che siano prontamente accettati nelle società che vincolano attivamente l’aspetto delle finestre in stili storici. Ci sono forti argomentazioni, tuttavia, a favore del rivoluzionamento del settore delle finestre con sistemi più reattivi come TESSILE. A livello ambientale, risparmiano energia gestendo meglio i fattori climatici come l’apporto di calore solare e la luce del giorno. A livello umano, facilitano una vita sana incoraggiando l'interazione con le finestre e una consapevolezza più coerente dei numerosi dinamismi della natura. L'obiettivo finale di TESSILE, quindi, è quello di fare un passo nella direzione dell'innovazione, trovando momenti di conciliazione tra nuovi bisogni e nuove opportunità e dando forma a queste idee attraverso la realizzazione fisica e la sperimentazione di nuove ecologie materiali.
TESSILE. Design proposal for the use of elasticized textiles in responsive window coverings
LIDDELL, TIMOTHY
2017/2018
Abstract
TESSILE is a research project investigating the role of windows in the lives of people today. Through an exploratory process of material prototyping and digital simulation, it envisions a future wherein window coverings respond more dynamically to environmental and societal flows. Specifically, TESSILE proposes a new typology of window covering that leverages the unique morphological properties of elasticized textile and the geometric versatility of digital fabrication. The project is rooted in original research on the topic of windows and window coverings. In addition to direct observation and literature review, data was collected through an online survey of over 200 individuals in Europe and North America. These efforts resulted in two research documents: (1) a catalogue of window typologies and (2) a comparative analysis of window interaction in the United States and Italy. It was found that, while many products exist today serving the practical and aesthetic needs of consumers, the market is steeped in tradition and wary of innovation. Many technological and material opportunities remain untapped. TESSILE pursues innovation through the hands-on testing of materials and geometry. Specifically, it explores the use of elasticized textiles as an actuator in soft, transformable assemblies. The prototyping process involves 3d-printing filament onto pre-stretched fabric, causing selective deformation of the plane and highly complex surface curvatures. The hybridized fabric is then folded, cut or laminating to achieve additional aesthetic and functional effects. Though experimental in nature, the process results in visually compelling surfaces with unique performative characteristics. If scaled up, these surfaces could act as dynamic screening devices for windows. In different cultures and climates, window coverings are expected to perform different tasks. In cold northern climates, for example, sunlight is often blocked with interior curtains that absorb heat and radiate it toward the interior. In hot climates, alternatively, sunlight is blocked by exterior shading devices, carefully tuned throughout the day by building occupants. The products that evolved in response to these climatic conditions have a significant impact on human behavior, affecting the way entire cultures interact with their windows. In mature societies, there is a healthy symbiosis that develops between products and culture. Yet globalization tips this balance – by vastly expanding the number of available products and by the mixing the cultures of people from diverse geographical origins. This results in the misuse of many functional elements and the trivialization of performative geometries into decorations. Furthermore, throughout the 20th century, windows were stripped of many of their original functions and became mere ‘picture’ frames for viewing. Ventilation and thermal control were relegated to central HVAC systems and many building occupants lost control over their personal environments. This was problematic both in terms of energy management and human comfort. Architects today are pushing back against this Modernist legacy, proposing increasingly interactive and customizable building enclosures. Yet mass-market products do not yet reflect this new sensibility and many homeowners are left choosing among window solutions that are centuries old. As people continue to spend more time inside, windows offer a critical moment of connection with the outdoors. They are tasked with blocking nature’s undesired elements, while letting in the good. This often leads to contradictions between two or more performance criteria; for example, offering views while maintaining privacy or providing ample daylight while avoiding solar heat gain. To respond to all these competing needs, the window has become a palimpsest of different mono-functional layers that, at times, conflict with one another. TESSILE, instead, is conceived as a multi-functional surface that responds to the intrinsic geometry of each flow: the steep angle of hot summer sun, the upward gaze of voyeuristic pedestrians, the horizontal nature of distant views. The temporal dimensions of these flows are also considered: the morning sunlight desired when waking up, the privacy needed when dressing, the security needed when away. The surface is thus divided into a series of zones that can each be transformed dynamically in space and time to achieve varied objectives. The problem of subdividing and transforming a plane is geometric in nature. Subdivisions must be sized to offer adequate variability, without becoming overly complex or visually obtrusive. The surface must be ‘tunable’ from a condition of openness to a condition of closure. And ideally, the surface is also be ‘tuckable’, in the sense that it may be fully moved out of position when not in use. This can be achieved through rolling, folding, nesting, stretching or simple planar translation. The material studies developed to enact these transformations do not look like products currently on the market. In fact, it is difficult to imagine them being readily accepted in societies that actively regulate the dressing of windows in historic styles. There are strong arguments, however, in favor of disrupting the window covering industry with more responsive systems like TESSILE. Environmentally, they save energy by better managing climatic factors like solar heat gain and daylight. On a human level, they facilitate healthy living by encouraging window interaction and more consistent awareness of nature’s many flows. The ultimate goal of TESSILE, therefore, is to take a step in the direction of innovation, by finding moments of synchronization between new needs and new opportunities -- and giving shape to these ideas through the physical realization and testing of new material ecologies.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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LIDDELL - Masters Thesis.pdf
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Descrizione: Thesis Booklet
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/143675